Railroad crossing



Nov. 26, 1929. E. J. SEXTON 1,737,482 RAILROAD CROSSING Filed July 1'7,1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l EDWARD J. 5EXTON FIG.

RAILROAD CROS S ING Filed uly 17, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 26, 1929.E. J. SEX TOIN 1,737,482

RAILROAD CROS S ING Filed July 17, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EDWHED J.SBXTON Patented Nov. 26, 1929 NETF. STATS EDWARD J. SEXTON, OFINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA RAILROAD CROSSING Application filed July 17, 1929.Serial No. 378,972.

This invention relates to railroad crossings and the prime feature ofthe invention is the provision of means for providing a continuous railsurface in either direction for the passage of a train.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means forsimultaneously cl0sing the parts of one trackway for the passage of atrain, while the parts of the other trackway are moved to open position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for lockingthe parts of the device in adjusted positions.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means forretaining the movable parts of the device against tilting action.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means forreinforcing the connecting parts of the device.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forthand pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device set to afford a continuousrail surface over one trackway.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the parts set to form a continuousrail surface over the other trackway.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation of the trackways and the operating meanstherefor.

Figure tis a similar view of the locking mechanism.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of one of the shifting rail sections.

Figure 6 is a perspective view thereof, and,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view as seen along lines 7--7, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding part-s throughout the several views, the numeral 1indicates the rails forming one of the trackways, and 2 indicates therails forming the other trackway.

The trackway 1 is substantially at right angles to the trackway 2 andthe connecting rails 3 between the rails of the trackways 1 and 2, areright angular shaped and preferably in one piece, so that the wheels ofa train will pass thereover without causing undue clicking or poundingnoise. Interposed be tween the connecting rails 3, are subrails 4 and 5,which form continuations of the rails of the trackways 1 and 2respectively. The connecting rails 3 and the sub-rails 4E and 5 aresecured in any suitable manner, to a base 6, preferably of metal and therails of the trackways 1 and 2 are connected with the connecting rails 3through the medium of fish plates 7 and 8, the plates 7 being preferablytriangular shaped, while the plates 8 are substantially channel shaped,the latter plates forming braces for the subrails 4 and 5.

I11 order to permit the wheels of a train to pass over one of thetrackways without encountering the rails of the other trackway, thesub-rails 4 and 5 have movable sections 9 and 10 respectively, at theirends, which oper ate in pairs and are arranged so that when one set ofthe sections are adjusted to form continuous rails for one trackway, theother set will be moved out of alignment with the rails of the othertrackway.

To accomplish this result, a rocking shackle member 11 is pivoted to thebase 6, centrally between the sub-rails 4. and 5, two of the movablesections 9 and two of the movable sections 10 being connected directlyto the arms of the shackle member 11 by means of pitmen 12 and 13,respectively, while the other two of the movable sections 9 and 10 areconnected to levers 14 and 15 respectively, by means of links 16 and 17,said levers being in turn connected to the arms of the shackle member 11through the'medium of pitmen 18 and 19, respectively, all of said pitmenbeing adjustable lengthwise.

By shackling the several movable sections 90 9 and 10 in the mannershown, four of the movable members will be simultaneously moved intoalignment with two of the subrails, while the other four members will bemoved out of alignment with two of the subrails, when the shackle member11 is rocked back and forth on its pivot, the pitmen 18 and 19 being incrossed relation with each other for causing the movable membersassociated therewith to move in their prescribed directions incident tothe operation of the shackle member.

The movable members 9 and 10 each have depending blocks thereon, whichslide in 5 guide slots 21 in the base 6, said movable members beingfurther guided and braced by forming ledges 22 on the base portions ofsaid members which extend beneath and enter grooves 22 in thecooperating rail members 10 and prevent lateral swaying motion thereofWhile a train is passing thereover.

The shackle member is operated and con trolled in any suitable mannerand from any suitable position, the controlling mechanism 5 herein shownbeing located adjacent the crossing, although it may be located in atower (not shown) or at any suitable distance from the crossing. Theoperating mechanism comprises a lever 23,, pivoted to a supzo port 24,one end the lever 23 having a rod 25 attached thereto, the opposite endof said rod being attached to one arm of a bell crank lever 26, pivotedto the base 6 or other suit able point.

Attached to the opposite arm oi the bell crank lever 26 is a rod 27, theopposite end of said latter rod being attached to one of the arms of theshackle member 11, so that when the lever is swung back and forth on itspivot, the shackle member 11 will be swung back and forth in the arc ofa circle and the various sets of movable members moved into or out ofoperative position.

In order to lock the various movable memhers 9 and 10 in theirrespective adjusted positions, a locking rod 28 is provided, one end-oiwhich is attached to an operating lever 29, while the opposite endthereof passes through openings in a sliding plate 80, a 4.0;guidemember 31 being provided for properly guiding the plate 30. Theplate 30 is moved endwise incident to the longituoinal movement of therod 27, to which the sliding plate 30 is attached, Th holes (not 1shown) in the plate 30 are p1 4; erably two in number, one of which isin, position to receive the end of the locking rod 28, when one set ofthe movable members is in operative position and with the other openingwhen the other- 605, set of movable members is shifted to operativeposit-ion.

Inoperation, supposing that a, train is to pass over the crossing on thetrackway 1, the parts of the device are set in the positions shown inFig. 1, the movable members 9 being in alignment with the rails formingthe trackway 1, while the movable members 10 are out of alignment withthe rails forming the trackway 2, thus forming a continuous bears 6c ingsurface for the wheels of the train in one direction. In the event thetrain is to pass over the traclr'way 2, the lever 29. is operated torelease the plate 30, after which the lever 23 is operated to rotate theshackle member j 11, which will result in positioning the move ablemembers 10 in alignment with the rails forming the trackway 2 and movethe members 9 out of alignment with the rails form= ing the t-rackway 1as shown in Fig. 2. The

lever 29 is again operated to engage the lock ing rod 28 with an openingin the plate 30 and again lock the movable members in their adjustedpositions, the locking of the plate 30 preventing the adjustable membersmovin out of position until the entire train has passed thereover.

While I have illustrated in a general way, certain instrumentalitieswhich may be employed in carrying my invention into eflect, it isevident that many modifications may be made in the various details,without departing from the scope of the appended claims, it beingunderstood that my invention is not restricted to the particularexamples herein described.

hat Iclaim is: v

1. In a crossing structure, a base member, track forming rails on saidbase member and in crossing relation. connecting-rails for said trackforming rails, sub-rails between said connecting rails and spacedtherefrom, the ends of said sub-rails and said connecting rails havingundercut grooves therein, movable members ada ited to be moved into orout of position between the ends of the subs rails and said connectingrails, ledges "formed on said movable members adapted to enter saidgrooves when the movable members are positioned between the ends of saidsuberails and said connecting members for holding said movable membersrigid while a train is passing thereover, blocks depending from saidmovable members forming guides therefor, said base member having slotstherein for the reception of said blocks, and means for disposing saidmovable members into or out of position between said sub-rails andconnecting rails. I

2. In a crossing structure. a base member,

track forming rails on said base, connecting rails for said track torminrails,sub-.rails between sald connecting rails and spaced the r from,movable members adapted to be me into or out of position between saidconnect.-

ing and sub-rails, a shackle member pivoted to said base member,pitmen'connecting said shackle member with said movable members, a rodfor rocking shackle member, a lever for operating said rod, a perforatedplate, means for connecting said plate with said shaclne member wherebythe plate will slide ior tudinally when the shackle member is rocked. alocking rod adapted to ei'igage the perforations in said plate forlocking the shackle in its rocked position, and a lever for operatingsaid locking rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hercui ito set my hand on this the 10th dayof July,

EDWARD J. SEXTQIT.

